South Kensington-Chelsea is a district of central London. It is one most densely populate places in London and most affluent areas in the world. For travellers, the main points of interest are Albertopolis, containing several of the UK's major museums, and the shopping around Knightsbridge and Sloane Square.

This district is defined as the southern part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBK & C); from the Thames in the south to Kensington High Street in the north, also taking in Hyde Park in the east and the area around Kensington Olympia in the west. It includes the area south of the Royal Parks commonly known as High Street Kensington and South Kensington west to Earl's Court and Olympia and south to West Brompton, Sloane Square and Chelsea. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combine to form the largest green space in metropolitan London and provide a real oasis in the heart of this vast city.

South Kensington hosts four of London's largest and finest museums, as well as its oldest and arguably most famous concert hall, and is also home to the venerable Imperial College. High Street Kensington leads to a long line of shops and department stores, offering a less hectic version of Oxford Street as well very upmarket stores in Knightsbridge. Sloane Street connects Knightsbridge to Chelsea via Sloane Square and is lined with luxury brand boutiques.

Chelsea is an extensive riverside area of London that extends broadly from Sloane Square in the east to the World's End pub in the west and down to the River Thames. The King's Road marks the main thoroughfare of Chelsea.

The district contains the second largest number of American immigrants in the United Kingdom, many of whom work in the financial sector in The City, while others are connected to institutions such as the American International University, which has a campus just off High Street Kensington. Many local shops, from convenience stores to supermarkets, stock American products in their ethnic food sections. South Kensington is sometimes called the "21st arrondissement" due to the number of French expatriates living there; enough to technically make London the sixth largest French city. The community results in many French cafés, delicatessens and other businesses in the area. Knightsbridge is known for both its Russian and Arab populations, with the accompanying restaurants and institutions they bring.

The whole of the district contains some of the most expensive residential property in the world but is a little more downmarket towards its western edges.

Following the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851, of which he was a key figure, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, proposed a cultural hub to continue the Exhibition's work and to promote both arts and sciences together in one area. Profits from the Exhibition were used to purchase land, which was then in the countryside, and begin an ambitious plan for the area. The prince was so influential that the project became known as "Albertopolis", first in mockery and later with affection. The first building, the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum), opening in 1857. Today Albertopolis, loosely the area around Exhibition Road, contains a collection of world-class museums, universities, conservatories, and other cultural institutions. Its tradition for innovation continues: in 2012 Exhibition Road was redeveloped and converted into a shared space for both pedestrians and motorists, with no kerb to separate the two.

Chelsea's modern reputation as a centre of innovation and influence originated in a period during the 19th century when the area became a veritable Victorian artists' colony: artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, J.M.W. Turner, James McNeill Whistler, William Holman Hunt and John Singer Sargent, as well as writers such as George Meredith, Algernon Swinburne, Leigh Hunt and Thomas Carlyle all lived and worked here. A particularly large concentration of artists existed in the area around Cheyne Walk (pronounced Chey-nee) and Cheyne Row, where the pre-Raphaelite movement had its heart.

Following the Second World War, Chelsea, like many other formerly prosperous areas became rather run down and poor. It became prominent once again as an artistic centre, Bohemian district and hot spots for young professionals in the 1960s. The Americans called this period "Swinging London" and the King's Road became the definition of style and fashion and both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones lived in the neighbourhood.

In the 1970s, the "World's End" area of the King's Road was home to Vivienne Westwood's shop ("Sex"), and witnessed the genesis of punk music and style with many Mohawks to be seen on the road against the background of the closed down shops. Thereafter, working class youth culture was priced out of the area nd gravitated to Camden, Islington, Ladbroke Grove, Brixton and Brick Lane.

The 1980s saw the rise of the Sloane (archetypally Princess Diana) and the Mohawks gave way to twin set pearls, pink Polo shirts and what an American would call a "preppy". Chelsea seems to have settled into stylish affluence and aspiration.

Note that all of these routes use iconic London red double-deck buses except C1, typically operate at least every 10 minutes, and that any travelcard pass is valid for all buses (otherwise, buses are £1.40 per boarding using Oyster pay-as-you-go; capped at £4.40 in total per day).

Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road in South Kensington are home to several world class museums and all have free entry, only charging for special temporary exhibitions. They do accept (and encourage) donations if you feel you have enjoyed your visit.

Each of them more than justifies a full day's visit. It's probably more rewarding to spend your time on a relaxed visit to one or perhaps two of the South Kensington museums, giving yourself a chance to breathe in the atmosphere of the institutions and wander through some of the less obvious galleries, than it is to attempt to fit all of them into one day.

Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Cromwell Rd (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7942-2000, e-mail: vanda@vam.ac.uk. 10:00–17:45, F until 22:00. Named in honour of Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert, this museum has existed for over 150 years. It contains a huge collection of decorative arts from all over the world and far back in time, trying to see everything in one day would be exhausting. There are regular exhibitions concentrating on a particular theme from Chinese art to fashion designers. Frequently they put on children's activities and late DJ nights.Free/donation.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7942-5000, e-mail: info@nhm.ac.uk. 10:00–17:30. Probably the most popular of all the museums here and a must see for many visitors to London. Home to no less than 70 million specimens from across all the life sciences. It's difficult to say what the most popular exhibit here is; the diplodocus which towers over the entrance hall, the (now slightly tacky-looking) animatronic tyrannasaurs in the dinosaur gallery, or the life-size model blue whale in the mammals gallery. Also well worth a check are the recently-opened Darwin Centre (book on a free tour to see some of the most interesting, and sometimes gruesome, specimens not on public display); and the studio dedicated to BBC wildlife personality extraordinaire, David Attenborough. The NHM's "Earth Galleries" were once the adjacent Geological Museum, an independent institution until the 1980s, and still located in a separate building with a separate entrance.Free/donation.

Science Museum, Exhibition Rd (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 870 870 4868, e-mail: feedback@nmsi.ac.uk. 10:00–18:00. Dedicated to scientific exhibitions and collections bar those related to the life sciences. A number of famous historical machines and inventions are housed here including Stephenson's Rocket. The space exhibits are especially popular. Exhibitions tend to concentrate on explaining scientific principles with working models and there is a strong emphasis on education and attracting children. The Science Museum first opened a "Children's Gallery" in the 1930s and it continues to lead the way in this area; now, there are three separate galleries aimed at all ages of younger visitor, from 5 to 16. The museum also runs "Science Nights" whereby children spend an evening learning principles and participating in experiments before spending the night sleeping in the museum with the exhibits. Also houses a vast library of scientific and medical books and journals.Free/donation.

The Geological Museum (The Red Zone), Cromwell Rd (tube: South Kensington). 10:00–17:30. This venerable old institution was absorbed by the neighbouring Natural History Museum in 1985 but still has something of a separate identity. Unsurprisingly, devoted to all things geological with especially popular exhibits on vulcanology and earthquakes and fossils of all types. Very popular with kids and often under-rated.Free/donation.

This area, while urban, is not lacking in green areas. Many residential squares have gated gardens in their centre, although only the residents will usually have keys to access them. Many other green areas will be open, however. The dominant green area is, of course, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. These royal parks are contiguous and often mistaken for just one park, called Hyde Park, although they are officially separate and have different opening hours. Together they are one of the larger metropolitan parks on Earth and cover more land than some small countries. The parks are popular for urban bird-watching as they hold over a hundred different species, from common urban birds and waterfowl to kestrals, owls and parrots. Flocks of the latter, ring-necked parakeets, have established themselves throughout London, although no one knows from where they originally came (one theory is that they escaped from the filming of The African Queen in 1950, although there are records of urban parrots as far back as the Victorian period).

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Rd SW3 4HS, ☎+44 20 7352-5646. Apr–Oct: Tu–Fr & Su 11:00–18:00; Nov-Mar: closed to the general public for Winter. Garden founded by apothecaries in the 17th century to the medicinal properties of plants. It was only opened to the public in the 1980's when it became a charity. The heat-sink caused by its thick walls, combined with the general waste heat of London itself, keeps the garden much warmer than it would otherwise be at this latitude. Due to this, the garden contains the world's most northerly example of a grapefruit outside of a greenhouse, and the largest fruiting olive tree in the country. The collection contains thousands of different plant species. Opens late in midsummer and for some bank holiday Mondays.£5–8.

Hyde Park (tube: Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner or Knightsbridge). 05:00–midnight. The eastern half of the twin parks. Of the two Hyde Park is open for longer and has more open, unwooded land; it is often host to concerts, fun fairs and events.Free.

Diana Memorial Fountain.

Rose Garden.

The Serpentine. The Serpentine is a small, artificial lake within Hyde Park which contains a range of waterfowl and fish. It was first made by damming the River Westbourne but it is now fed by three boreholes. The western end of the lake is actually in Kensington Gardens, in which it is called The Long Water.

Speakers Corner. By custom, in this far northeastern corner of the park (by the Marble Arch Tube stop near Mayfair), people are free to say whatever they like about who and whatever they like. Worth checking out to see the lunatics and exhibitionists spouting off.

Kensington Gardens (tube: High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway or Lancaster Gate). 06:00–dusk. The western half of the twin parks and the half that is often forgotten in public consciousness. It tends to be more formal than its neighbouring park and it closes at dusk, while Hyde Park is open until midnight.Free.

Elfin Oak. A 900-year-old tree stump carved and painted to feature elves and small animals.

Italian Gardens.

Kensington Palace, Palace Green, W8 4PX (tube: Queensway), ☎+44 20 3166-6000. Nov-Feb 10:00-17:00 daily, Mar-Oct 10:00-18:00. A royal residence which is still used by some members of the ruling family. Much of it is however open to the public and it is a very popular tourist attraction perhaps due as much to its association with Princess Diana as anything else. The King's Gallery here is a magnificent Regency period court drawing room and contains some impressive paintings including a Van Dyke. Also a nice restaurant on site called The Orangery.£6.25-12.50.

The Round Pond (half way along the Broad Walk). A pond that is round. Deckchairs can be hired for £1.50. The park benches and grassy areas are free.

The Serpentine Gallery. A nice free art gallery, near to the Serpentine. Each summer a pavilion next to the gallery is designed by a different architect, which then houses various cultural events.

Kensington Roof Gardens, 99 High Street Kensington, W8 5SA (entrance in Derry Street, off Kensington High Street just next to High Street Kensington station), ☎+44 20 7937-7994. 09:00–17:00 (but call ahead as they are sometimes closed for private functions). High above High Street Kensington is an unlikely place to find ornamental gardens. Nevertheless, three themed gardens can be found here: a Spanish Garden, a Tudor Garden and an English Woodland, covering 1.5 acres of rooftop. They were created in the 1930s by the owners of what was then the department store underneath. You can gaze at a stream and its resident flamingos while looking over the rooftops of Kensington. A restaurant and nightclub can also be found up here.Free.

Roper's Garden, Cheyne Walk. Small green area, with benches, by the Thames. Created in the crater of a World War II bomb site, it contains an ancient cherry tree to commemorate the visit of Gunji Koizumi, the man who introduced judo to the country. Named after Margaret Roper née More, to whom the area was a gift from her father, Sir Thomas More, on her marriage to William Roper.

Blue plaques mark the buildings in which the notable people of the past lived and worked. The scheme started in London in 1866 and continues to this day. There are hundreds of houses and other buildings marked in this way in the area; the following are just a sample of those that can be viewed. This can be a pleasant way to look around the city, something to see on your journey, or the focus of a pilgrimage to see the historic sites related to a specific figure.

Alfred Hitchcock's House, 153 Cromwell Road, SW5 0TQ (tube: Earl's Court). A plaque erected in 1999 marks the house where the famous director lived from 1926 to 1939.

Bram Stoker's House, 18 St Leonard’s Terrace, SW3 4QG (tube: Sloane Square). In 1977, the London Dracula Society unveiled the plaque that marks the home of the author of Dracula.

Rosalind Franklin's House, Donovan Court, Drayton Gardens, SW10 9QS (tube: South Kensington or Gloucester Road). One of the discoverers of the DNA molecule lived here in the 1950s until her death in 1958.

Billionaries' Row, aka Kensington Palace Gardens (tube: High Street Kensington or Notting Hill Gate). One of the most expensive residential streets on the planet! Most of the buildings here are embassies or ambassadorial residences but the rest of the mansions belong to some of the richest people in the country (or elsewhere). For added historical value, during World War II, the current Norwegian embassy was where King Haakon VII led the Norwegian government-in-exile (commemorated by a blue plaque) and MI19's "London Cage" prisoner-of-war facility was located here. There is no public right of way but the Crown Estate allow pedestrians and cyclists to use the street; photography is not permitted.

Chelsea Old Church, 64 Cheyne Walk, SW3 5LT (tube: South Kensington, Gloucester Square or Sloane Square), ☎+44 20 7795-1019, e-mail: chelseaoldchurch@yahoo.com. Tu-Th 14:00–16:00. This church on the bank of the Thames was built in 1157. It is the only church in London with chained books. A statue of Thomas More sits in front of the church.

Crosby Hall, Cheyne Walk, SW3 5AZ (tube: Sloane Square). Not open to the public. All that remains of a Tudor mansion originally located in the City of London. In 1910, to avoid demolition to make way for a bank, is was moved brick by brick and reassembled at Cheyne Walk. It is now a Grade II* listed building and possibly the largest private home in the capital.

Royal Hospital, Royal Hospital Rd (tube: Sloane Square), ☎+44 20 7881-5516, e-mail: tours@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk. Tours: M–F 10:00 & 13.30. Museum: M–F 10:00–16:00. A retirement home for soldiers created by King Charles II. Tours around the listed building and grounds are regular and include the museum (which can be visited separately) whose exhibits contain military memorabilia donated by Chelsea Pensioners over the years.Tours: £4–8 per person. Museum: Free.

Brompton Cemetery, entrances on Old Brompton Road and Fulham Rd (tube: West Brompton, Earl's Court or Fulham Broadway). One of the "Magnificent Seven" old cemeteries in London. Graves range from plain to ornate and the site can be a tranquil place to walk amid the bustle of the city. It was opened in 1840 and is still a working cemetery, although it was closed for a some time in the late twentieth century. Can be nice, if morbid, for an afternoon stroll, especially as a route (and cycle route) between Old Brompton Road and Fulham Road.

Penfold Post Box, Kensington High Street, W8 (near the junction with Melbury Rd). One of the few Victorian hexagonal Penfold post boxes still in use. Although there are others in this district, this one in notable for a narrow escape during WW2: minor bomb damage can still be seen in the base of the pillar.

Police Box, Earls Court Road, outside Earl's Court station (tube: Earl's Court). This police box was intended as part of a 1990s high-tech revival of the 1920s-60s police box system. The experiment failed and this is now the only police box left in London. It remains as street furniture and is quite popular with fans of the TV series Doctor Who.

Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, SW7 2EU (tube: High Street Kensington or South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7590-4444, e-mail: media@rca.ac.uk. usually 10:00–17:30. A Victorian school, an currently active University, with a mission to advance knowledge of the fine arts. Exhibitions are common. Times and admission charges vary but can often be free, although visitors may need to book tickets to certain events.

Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Rd, SW7 2BS (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7591-4300, e-mail: info@rcm.ac.uk. Museum: T–F 11:30–16:30; Performances: varies. Victorian school of music created on a suggestion by Prince Albert. It is still an active school but visitors may be more interested in its museum and performances. The free museum houses instruments dating back to the 15th century with several unusual pieces. Performances—by students, professors or visitors—are often free as well.Museum: Free. Performances: Varies but many are free (although tickets may be required).

London Cru, 21/27 Seagrave Road, ☎+44 20 7381-7871, e-mail: mail@londoncru.co.uk. Urban winery based in West London run by a team of experts that include international winemaker Gavin Monery and Master of Wine student Mark Andrew. The winery offers public tours, wine tastings, courses, and custom winemaking.from £15.

Boating on the Serpentine (Hyde Park). Rowing boats and pedalos are available for hire from Easter until the end of October.£12/hour (adults), £5/hour (children).

Earl's Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road, SW5 9TA (tube: Earl's Court or West Brompton), ☎+44 20 7385-1200, e-mail: info@eco.co.uk. Hosts frequent conventions, exhibitions, concerts and events. Located on the site used for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the 19th century. It has two halls, Earl's Court One and Earl's Court Two. See it while you can; the site has controversially been scheduled to be demolished and redeveloped. Times and prices vary.

Hyde Park Tennis and Sports Centre, South Carriage Drive, W2 2UH (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7262-3474, e-mail: hydepark@willtowin.co.uk. Times vary by month and area; generally open in daylight hours. Contains six hard tennis courts, two mini tennis courts, a six-rink lawn bowling green and a nine-hole putting green; plus support facilities such as changing rooms and a café. Bowling greens, tennis courts and nearby football pitches can be booked. Putting is mostly drop-in only (as is some tennis). Some equipment can be rented from the sports centre.£7.50 bowling green; £5.50 putting green (adult).

Institut Francais du Royaume-Uni, 17 Queensberry Pl, SW7 2DT (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7871-3515. M–F 09:00–23:00; Sa 10:00–23:00; Su depends on events. The first in a worldwide network of institutes to promote and present the best of French culture. The site includes a café-restaurant, a cinema showing French films, the largest French library in the UK and a French language centre, as well as running other events. Set in a Kensington block that also includes the French consulate and a French school.

Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX (tube: Kensington (Olympia)), ☎+44 20 7385-1200. Another exhibition centre, owned by the same company as Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. It hosts the same range of conventions, fairs and events. Olympia has four halls and a conference centre, with a mix of trade shows and public events, so there is almost always something to see. Times and prices vary.

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7589-8212. Since opening in 1871 as part of Queen Victoria's memorial to her late husband it has become one of the most famous venues in the UK, and remains one of London's main concert halls. It still mainly caters for a classical audience, but it also hosts many other varied events including the odd contemporary rock/pop acts, and its corridors are sometimes used as exhibition spaces. During July–September the Albert Hall hosts the BBC Proms. This British national institution is a series of nightly classical concerts with world-leading performers for which standing tickets can be bought on the door on the night for as little as £5.

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Sq, SW1W 8AS (tube: Sloane Square), ☎+44 20 7565-5000. Britain's leading national theatre company dedicated to new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world.

The Troubadour, 263-265 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (tube: Earl's Court or West Brompton), ☎+44 20 7370-1434, e-mail: info@troubadour.co.uk. Café: 09:00–midnight; club: 20:00–02:00. Famous bohemian cafe with a pleasing menu of hearty dishes such as fishcakes, burgers and delicious filling salads. Good wine list too and lovely leafy garden out the back. There is a great little music venue downstairs and even accommodation on the top floor. As a music venue, the Troubadour has been programming acoustic music since the 1950s when Bob Dylan et al took to the stage. It's bigger now and has gone electric but is still one of the best venues in London for up and coming talent. The musical spectrum is broad. On any night you might catch solo singer-songwriters or full bands. No heavy rock or covers bands though. More recently it has hosted Adele, Laura Marlin, Jamie T and The Kleeks. There is a good menu too but arrive early to get a table. It can get very busy. Well worth a visit.Entry from £6. Food from about £10-20.

The Duke of York Square Shopping Complex (Just off King's Road, near Sloane Square). Has a range of spacious branches of popular fashion chains, but lacks some of the road's character, however the small adjoining public space of Duke of York square is a welcome place for a rest between shopping, and a popular place to hang out.

Harrods, 87–135 Brompton Rd SW1X 7XL (tube: Knightsbridge), ☎+44 20 7730-1234. M-Sa 10:00–20:00. The most famous store in London, favoured by the British establishment and owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed. Fairly strict dress code so do not turn up looking like a backpacker and expect to gain entrance.

King's Road (tube: Sloane Square, for north-east end). One of London's smartest fashion streets, having evolved from the cutting-edge of bohemia and innovative fashion in the 60s to a more genteel place to indulge in retail therapy, albeit with a notable presence of trendy young Londoners (including many so called Sloane Rangers). It is a very attractive street that retains the atmosphere of a small town whilst being in the heart of a huge city. There is a huge range of fashion stores from upmarket chains to one-off boutiques, as well as variety of other shops, complimented by cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs. There is an obvious affluence to the road without any bling or snobbiness. King's Road stretches south-west from here for miles, though the best of the shopping is in the first mile.

Lamborghini London, 27 Old Brompton Rd, SW7 3TD (tube: South Kensington, opposite the south entrance), ☎+44 20 7589-1472. M–F 09:00–18:00; Sa 10:00–15:00. If you fancy a new car and have a lot of spare change, it might be worth a look. Poorer people are allowed to look at the shiny cars too.

Whole Foods Market, 63-97 Kensington High Street, W8 5SE (tube: High Street Kensington), ☎+44 20 7368-4500. M-Sa 08:00–22:00; Su 12:00–18:00. The Kensington branch of this American chain of natural food supermarkets is the largest in the world.

Despite being a very upmarket and affluent area, there are still many places to eat on a budget, especially on the high street areas by the stations, each of which has its share of chain restaurants and fast food outlets. Gastropubs are another eating options, which can be found in the Drink section.

Little Japan, 32 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LT, ☎+44 20 7591-0207. Japanese restaurant and take-away between South Kensington station and the museums.

McDonald's, 108-110 Kensington High St, W8 4SG (directly opposite High Street Kensington station), ☎+44 20 7937-3705. 24 hours. This is just a McDonald's, pretty much the same as any other, but this one's easily remembered location and hours of operation make it a useful to know about.

Pop's, 272-274 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9HR (tube: Earl's Court or West Brompton), ☎+44 20 7835-1442. M–Sa 06:30–18:30; Su 08:00–18:30. Simple and straight-forward "greasy spoon" café for a good all-day breakfast or other budget meal.£5.50 for a Full English Breakfast.

Kensington Creperie (Cafe Creperie), 2 Exhibition Rd (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7589-8947, e-mail: mail@kensingtoncreperie.com. Tu-Su 11:00–23:30, M noon–23:30. A small, cute, often crowded cafe and authentic French creperie, popular with the local French and various other South Ken expats. Given its location near the tube, it is a fine place to sit outside and watch the fashionable young people pass by.£3–8.50.

Sole Luna Pizza & Pasta, 32-34 Thurloe St, SW7 2LT (Adjacent to the northern exit from South Kensington underground station), ☎+44 20 7581-0098. This Italian bistro-style restaurant offers good food but the prices are too high compared to the rather bad service. The waiters, which change often, are not very attentive and almost yank the plates and glasses from the customer as soon as they have finished. The restaurant can be very busy due to its location, but the service leaves a lot to be desired.£4–25.

Babylon (Entrance at street level from Derry Street, just off Kensington High Street right next to the station), ☎+44 20 7368-3993, e-mail: babylon@roofgardens.virgin.com. M-Sa 11:30–midnight, Su 11:30–17:30. Set amid Kensington Roof Gardens, seven floors above High Street Kensington station with a view over the city.£39.50 for 2 courses.

Bibendum, 81 Fulham Rd, SW3 6RD (tube: South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7581-5817, fax: +44 20 7823-7925, e-mail: reservations@bibendum.co.uk. Restaurant: M-F noon-14:30 / 19:00-23:00; Sa 12:30-15:00 / 19:00-23:00; Su 12:30-15:00 / 19:00-22:30. Bar: M-Sa noon-23:00; Su noon-22:30. Café: M-F 08:30-17:00; Sa 09:00-noon. Café, restaurant and oyster bar in Michelin House, an ornately tiled art nouveau building which belies the fact that it used to be a garage, albeit one catering to the few rich patrons who could afford an automobile in Edwardian London. Bibendum is the name of the character most commonly known as the Michelin Man.

Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HP (Tube: Sloane Square), ☎+44 20 7352-4441, e-mail: royalhospitalroad@gordonramsay.com. Lunch M-F noon–14:30, dinner: M-F 18:30-23:30, closed weekends. The original, flagship branch of the Ramsay empire. You are highly unlikely to find the man himself behind the stove these days, but this triple Michelin-starred eatery deserves its reputation as one of the finest on the planet. The lunch menu is just about affordable, but getting a reservation is problematic. Dress code applies.

The southern area by the river has had a bohemian reputation since the nineteenth century, when it was a famous artists colony. In the 1960s it was part of the Swinging London culture, in the 70's it was famous for punks, and in the 80's known for rich Sloane Rangers.

Maggie's, 329 Fulham Rd, SW10 9QL (tube: West Brompton, Earl's Court, Gloucester Road or South Kensington), ☎+44 20 7352-8512, e-mail: info@maggies-club.com. Tu–W 23:00–02:30; Th 22:30–02:30; F–Sa 22:30–03:30. 80's themed nightclub. Named after 80's prime minister Margaret Thatcher, whose speeches can be heard playing in the toilets. At the splurge level of costs, both to get in and at the bar.£15 entry.

The Phoenix, 23 Smith St, SW3 4EE (tube: South Kensington or Sloane Square), ☎+44 20 7730-9182, e-mail: thephoenix@geronimo-inns.co.uk. M–Sa 11:00–23:00; Su noon–22:30. Great pints, tremendous place for a pint on a sunny day. be sure to grab one of the outdoor tables and enjoy a cool pint on a hot day here (when not raining in London).

Drayton Arms, 153 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 0LJ (tube: Gloucester Road), ☎+44 20 7835-2301. M–Sa 12:00–23:00; Su 12:00–22:30. A mix of traditional pub and bohemian nightspot. A good range of beer and slightly more upmarket than some other pubs in the area.

Troubadour Wines, 267 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (Right next door to its famous sister, The Troubadour Cafe; tube: Earl's Court or West Brompton), ☎+44 20 7341-6341. 12:00–22:00. This cozy wine bar is a quieter alternative to the buzz next door. With a great selection of wines from around the world, many of which are not available anywhere else in London, this is a peaceful oasis where you can discover delicious and good value wines. Drink in or take home.

The eastern side of this destination is the most exclusive. Knightsbridge was constructed in the nineteenth century, at a time when pubs and beer shops were considered something only frequented by poor people. The owners and designers of Knightsbridge included pubs in the plans, for their servants, but made sure to place them down side streets where they wouldn't spoil the view.

The Hour Glass, 279 Brompton Rd, SW3 2DY, ☎+44 20 7581-2840. This small, triangular, very easy-going pub just a little away from the main street bustle is a favorite among the locals, above all because the seating inside is designed to prevent overcrowding, but also for its pavement seating and upscale gastropub fare.

This destination has many hotels and accommodation across a range of price points. As with most things in London, cost is often relative to the distance from the centre. For this destination, the hotels around Knightsbridge in the east are more in the splurge range, while those around Earls Court in the west are mostly budget or mid-range. For more splurgey, upmarket hotels, you might want to look at Mayfair-Marylebone. For more budgety, affordable hotels, try either Hammersmith and Fulham or Paddington-Maida Vale.

If privacy and luxury are not big concerns, or just not in your price range, these hostels will at least give you a place to sleep for the night.

The Londonears Hostel, 1 Barkston Gdns, SW5 0ER (tube:Earl's Court), ☎+44 20 7373-4322, fax: +44 20 3417-6386. Youth hostel for those willing to sleep in a bunk bed in a dormitory with many others.From £12 for a bed in a dormitory with up to 14 people.

Chelsea House Hotel, 96 Redcliffe Gdn, SW10 9HH (5 min from Earl's Court Underground, go to right on Earls Court Road, the hotel's 50 m after crossing Crompton Rd), ☎+44 20 7835-1551, fax: +44 20 7370-6800, e-mail: info@chelsea-house.co.uk. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. The staff is very gentle and helpful. It is clean, and the rooms are all right, they are a bit small, have fridge, a small TV, but no table. The hotel is not nice, but OK. The breakfast is uninteresting, except the coffee, which is awful! But, the tea and the juice are good. It is close to many pubs, cafés and shops. Good place to stay, but lots of traffic.

easyHotel Earl's Court, 42-48 West Cromwell Rd, SW5 9QL (5 min from Earl's Court tube station), e-mail: enquiries@earlscourt.easyHotel.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Guests can only book an easyHotel on the website and rooms are priced on the basis of the earlier you book, the less you pay.£varies.

Exhibition Court Hotel 4, 25 Collingham Pl, SW5 0QF (tube: Earl's Court or Gloucester Road), ☎+44 20 7370-2414, e-mail: info@exhibitioncourthotel4.co.uk. Neat and tidy 2-star hotel less than 5 minutes walk from Earls Court tube station. They have a 24-hour front desk. Double rooms with bathroom from around £60 (summer pricing) with basic breakfast included. The rooms are nicer than many of the double rooms in the hostels along Earls Court Rd, for much the same price, although there is no wi-fi internet.

The Lord Jim Hotel, 23-25 Penywern Rd, SW5 9TT (tube: Earl's Court), ☎+44 20 7370-6071, fax: +44 20 7373-8919, e-mail: LJH@lgh-hotels.com. One of the best hotels on Penywern Road, they have 45 rooms ranging from singles to quads. Breakfast is included, some rooms en suite. There is a TV lounge, a 24-hour concierge, and the staff is friendly and helpful. It is clean and the shared bathrooms are not bad at all.Online booking £37 for the booking itself, between £17-33 per person single.

There are three public libraries within this destination, all of which have wi-fi networks available to anyone. They all also have computers available for public use but a library membership card is required to book these machines.

For medical supplies, there are pharmacies throughout this area. The principal emergency medical facility in this destination is Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with more facilities in neighbouring areas.

This district travel guide to South Kensington-Chelsea is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page